Telecommunications equipment operable at two data rates

Abstract

A copper wire pair linking network terminating equipment in a home with a relatively localized multiplexer, e.g., in a street cabinet, carring high data rate, e.g., VDSL, signals such as ATM and ISDN, combined at the multiplexer. It is necessary for the multiplexer to be provided with a power supply but, in the event of failure of the power supply, VDSL signals could not be generated in the multiplexer. To provide some fall-back in such a case, a metal link from the local exchange to the network terminating equipment is formed, for example, by using relays, thereby permitting ISDN signals to be received in the home even though the higher data rate ATM has now failed.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. Network terminating equipment for connection by a link to a communication network to receive line signals, comprising: processing means for operating at a data rate appropriate to a line signal representing first services, and for extracting the first services from the line signal and for also extracting second services which are generated at a lower data rate than for the first services but which are incorporated within the line signal, the processing means being selectively capable of emulating a processing means capable of operating at the lower data rate of the second services for extracting the second services from a line signal of said lower data rate. 
     
     
       2. Telecommunications equipment including network terminating equipment for connection by a link to a communication network to receive line signals, comprising: processing means for operating at a data rate appropriate to a line signal representing first services, and for extracting the first services from the line signal and for also extracting second services which are generated at a lower data rate than for the first services but which are incorporated within the line signal, the processing means being selectively capable of emulating a processing means capable of operating at the lower data rate of the second services for extracting the second services from a line signal of said lower data rate. 
     
     
       3. Telecommunications equipment as claimed in claim  2 ; and further comprising a multiplexer for connection by the link to the network terminating equipment, the multiplexer comprising ports for reception from the communication network of data at one rate representing the first services and of data at a lower rate representing the second services, means for producing and transmitting along the link the line signal representing the first services and the second services, power supply means for the multiplexer, including means for connecting the port for reception of the data representing second services directly to the link in the event of failure of the power supply means. 
     
     
       4. Telecommunications equipment as claimed in claim  3 , in which the multiplexer includes at least one relay for connecting said port to the link on failure of the power supply means.